Vixen

Though the late 2010s and early 2020s had plenty of bands reinvigorating the rebellious, feminist sounds of the '90s, few of them were as fearless as Foxx Bodies. On their second album, Vixen, the band takes on abuse, betrayal, and the hardest parts of healing with a seething but articulate rage descended not only from riot grrrl but the era's other like-minded acts. On "Bad Kid," they take the loud-quiet-loud dynamics of the Breeders and Veruca Salt to their logical and noisy end as Bella Vanek wails "your love is bullsh*t," and there's some that dog. in "Victim's One"'s deceptively sweet harmonies. However, Foxx Bodies' ability to put all of their pain and frustration on display is all theirs. "BPD" illustrates borderline personality disorder -- one of several mental health diagnoses that inform Vanek's songwriting -- by switching from straight-ahead verses to chaotic choruses; on "Room," the band follows her every move as shifts from rage to pleading. While Foxx Bodies excel at fiery outbursts like the minute-long "Runaway" and the deadpan self-awareness of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs-esque "Monsoon Surf Club," the group leaves Vixen's most striking moments near the end. "Hospital"'s loungey guitars provide an elastic backdrop for Vanek's unflinching lyrics ("you lose count of the days/and you misplace your brain"), while the title track traces the journey from violation at the hands of a predatory teacher to inner resilience. A portrait of a band still coming into their own, Vixen hones Foxx Bodies' music to a sharper and more revealing edge. ~ Heather Phares